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Dalton State Summer Camps Open for Registration

02/15/18

Sarah Key is 11 years old and already loves anything related to chemistry.

However, most girls lose interest in science and math once they hit middle school, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Dalton State wants to help keep Sarah and other adolescent females engaged in science, technology, and math. The Girls in STEM summer camp at Dalton State is designed to keep science and math exciting through experiments and hands-on learning while boosting their self-esteem in these subjects. The camp is led by female college students studying STM and recent graduates.

Girls in STEM is one of many science camps offered for children at Dalton State. Registration is now open for all camps, including the popular Creek Critters and Stream Stomp, World of Science, and Nature Exploration at Lakeshore Park.

“Sarah learned so much,” said Michell Gray, Sarah’s mother. “Grades are important, and keeping children focused throughout the summer is great. She has become very familiar with Dalton State, especially the science building. She says that’s where she wants to go to college now. She learned so much and didn’t even realize it because she was having such a good time. I love letting her learn in an atmosphere where she doesn’t even realize how much she’s learning.”

This is important for young girls, said Dr. Kim Hays, assistant professor of biology who helps with the camp.

“Compared to boys, girls with the same abilities are more likely to give up when a task is difficult and talk themselves out of pursuing education and careers in STEM,” she said, citing a study by Carol Dweck.

Even though women make up more than half of all college graduates and master’s degree level graduates, only 20 percent of women have degrees in engineering, computer science, or physics, according to the Girl Scout Research Institute. 

Girls in STEM Camp is open for girls in fourth through eighth grades. It will be Monday through Friday, June, 25-29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $200 to offset the cost of supplies. Lunch will be provided.

Other camps include:

  • Creek Critters, for children ages 5-6. This camp introduces children to the wonders of stream ecosystems. It is taught by Dr. John Lugthart, professor of biology at Dalton State, and his wife Gretchen. This camp is Saturday, June 23 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $35.
  • Stream Stomp, for ages 7-10. Children will search for animals in campus streams, learn about water pollution, and discuss ways to protect the streams. Lugthart also teaches this camp which will meet Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23, from 1:30-4 p.m. The cost is $50 per child.
  • World of Science, for students in second- through fifth-grades. This camp is led by Dalton State science faculty and meets in Peeples Hall, a state-of-the-art facility for biology and chemistry. The camp is Monday through Friday, June 18-22 from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost is $110.
  • Nature Exploration at Lakeshore Park, for students in sixth- through eighth-grades. This camp meets on Wednesday, July 25, and Thursday, July 26, from 2-4:30 p.m. It is taught by Lugthart and Chris Manis, a part-time instructor and research assistant at the College and a middle grades science teacher. The cost is $50, and transportation must be provided.

For more information or to register, www.daltonstate.edu/Summer-Camps